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Interview - Miyavi Takes A New Path With 'Unbroken'
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
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While he was in Australia for the film’s world premiere, I had the pleasure of speaking with the Japanese-born Miyavi about his strong performance as The Bird. Here’s what he had to say…
Matt: You’ve been a successful singer-songwriter for some time now, have you always wanted to give acting a try?
Miyavi: It actually happened out of the blue. There was a casting director who came to my office in Tokyo and that was the first time I’d heard about the film. I was initially hesitant as I had no experience as an actor and the story was quite controversial.
When I first met Angie, she told me that she wanted to make something that could be a “bridge” between not just America and Japan but also countries that have been having similar conflicts. The message of Louis Zamperini and his life is all about forgiveness and maintaining an unbroken spirit. The allowed me to make a decision as I realised this wasn’t a typical war movie.
Matt: The character you play is known as The Bird. Did you know anything about the guy before you signed on to do the film?
Miyavi: No, I didn’t know about him. I didn’t even know about the book as it’s not translated in Japan because the story is so controversial. Of course I was able to learn a lot over the course of the film. I even got to see articles that The Bird wrote after the war about how much he wanted to see him mum while he was hiding in the mountains for 7 years. Angie and I also spoke a lot about the character and about how we believed he was unbalanced and suffering.
Matt: Did you get to spend much time with Louis Zamperini before he passed away earlier this year?
Miyavi: Yes, one time. He invited me and my family and it was a great time. He welcomed us, he played with my daughters, and he was cracking jokes. He also told some stories from the prison camp and I was able to see the strength in the man firsthand.
Matt: Did he give you any tips as to how to play your character?
Miyavi: Actually, I wasn’t able to meet him until after the film had finished shooting. It was still very meaningful though.
Matt: So many of us are familiar with Angelina Jolie as an actress but what’s she like as a director? How would you describe her approach to putting this together? What was she like on set?
Miyavi: Determined and passionate. This was her mission. Everyone wanted to dedicate themselves to achieving this movie and to deliver its message to the whole world. My family was also able to spend time with her family and we learned many things from each other about how to be a great parent.
Matt: There are many scenes in this film where you are beating Louis Zamperini, played by Jack O’Connell. How much time does that take to choreograph and rehearse so as to make it look as authentic as possible?
Miyavi: It’s all thanks to a talented crew. Before the film was shot, we had no actual rehearsal and so I learned how to behave, how to walk and how to use a bamboo stick from the experts brought onto the set.
Matt: A lot of people have been raving about Jack O’Connell and saying he could be one of the next big stars in Hollywood so what was he like to work with?
Miyavi: He was cool and very professional. The role was a huge challenge for him and I thought he did a great job.
Matt: It’s great for the Aussie film industry that a film of this magnitude was shot here in Australia. The scenes in which you appear – can you tell us where they were shot in particular?
Miyavi: The prison camp scenes were shot on Cockatoo Island but it felt like we were in Japan which really helped me to get into the character. It was also a beautiful location with all the seagulls and other birds. I enjoyed every moment of my time in this country.
Matt: The film had it is world premiere in Sydney. What was it like sitting in a huge theatre with a packed audience and watching it for first time?
Miyavi: I wasn’t able to watch the film last night sadly but I had already seen it before. It was my first time on the red carpet though as an actor and that was great. Everyone was so welcoming.
Matt: So now that you’ve had this taste for acting, is it something you’d like to continue?
Miyavi: Yeah, if there’s an opportunity I would love to. I learned so much about conveying emotions and also the similarities that exist between performing live on stage as a musician and acting on a set. I really did enjoy acting a lot.
Brisbane Film Critics Select 'Boyhood' As Best Of 2014
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
Since 2011, I have been pulling together a list of the best movies of the year according to the Brisbane-based critics who I run into regularly at preview screenings. Those films to have topped prior year lists have been Drive in 2011, Argo in 2012 and Gravity in 2013. To come up with an overall top 10, I’ve used a simple points system and applied it to the list of each critic. It is as follows: |
| 3 points – the top film on each list. | |
| 2 points – the films ranked between 2nd and 5th on each list. | |
| 1 point – the films ranked between 6th and 10th on each list. |
If two films finished on the same score, the film that appeared on the most number of top 10 lists is ranked higher (as an indication of wider approval). It was a close contest between several films but it was Boyhood who finished on top. It's the current Oscars frontrunner and 4 different Brisbane critics named it as their favourite film of 2014. Rounding out the places were two films from very different genres. The runner-up spot was claimed by Under The Skin, the unusual sci-fi thriller starring Scarlett Johansson. Finishing third was Calvary, the dark drama featuring Brendan Gleeson. The only other films to appear on more than 50% of the critics' lists were Nightcrawler (4th place) and The Grand Budapest Hotel (7th place). No Australian film made the overall top 10 but those featuring most prominently among the critics were The Babadook and Tracks. The Lego Movie was the clear favourite in terms of animated features. On that note, here are the top 10 movies of 2014 according to Brisbane critics… |
| Brisbane Film Critics - Top 10 Of 2014 | ||
| 1. | Boyhood | |
| 2. | Under The Skin | |
| 3. | Calvary | |
| 4. | Nightcrawler | |
| 5. | 12 Years A Slave | |
| 6. | Inside Llewyn Davis | |
| 7. | The Grand Budapest Hotel | |
| 8. | Whiplash | |
| 9. | Her | |
| 10. | The Wolf Of Wall Street | |
You can view a table of all the votes and final scores by clicking here. A big thanks to all the critics who were able to contribute. Hopefully we'll do it again next year! You can check out information on all the Brisbane critics (along with their choices for the best and worst of 2014) below. |
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Matthew Toomey | Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | Boyhood |
| 2. | Still Life |
| 3. | 12 Years A Slave |
| 4. | Nebraska |
| 5. | Edge Of Tomorrow |
| 6. | A Most Wanted Man |
| 7. | The Raid 2 |
| 8. | Whiplash |
| 9. | The Maze Runner |
| 10. | The Wolf Of Wall Street |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| The Rover | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Lego Movie | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| All This Mayhem | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Eddie Marsan (Still Life) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| A Winter's Tale | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Chef | |
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Sarah Ward | Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | Inside Llewyn Davis |
| 2. | Two Days, One Night |
| 3. | Force Majeure |
| 4. | Nightcrawler |
| 5. | Under The Skin |
| 6. | Her |
| 7. | The Wolf Of Wall Street |
| 8. | The Grand Budapest Hotel |
| 9. | Ida |
| 10. | What We Do In The Shadows |
| Top Unreleased Films: | |
| 1. | A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night |
| 2. | Hill Of Freedom |
| 3. | '71 |
| 4. | The Strange Little Cat |
| 5. | Listen Up Philip |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| The Babadook | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Lego Movie | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| All This Mayhem | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night & The Immigrant) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| The Little Death | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| John Wick | |
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Laurence Barber| Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | Inside Llewyn Davis |
| 2. | 12 Years A Slave |
| 3. | The Selfish Giant |
| 4. | Wadjda |
| 5. | Gloria |
| 6. | Only Lovers Left Alive |
| 7. | The Great Beauty |
| 8. | Snowpiercer |
| 9. | The Double |
| 10. | The Grand Budapest Hotel |
| Top Unreleased Films: | |
| 1. | The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby: Him/Her |
| 2. | Mommy |
| 3. | La Ultima Pelicula |
| 4. | Listen Up Philip |
| 5. | The Salt Of The Earth |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Tracks | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Lego Movie | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| The Missing Picture | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| A Million Ways To Die In The West | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Fury | |
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Baz McAlister| Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | Guardians Of The Galaxy |
| 2. | Nightcrawler |
| 3. | Calvary |
| 4. | The Drop |
| 5. | Under The Skin |
| 6. | Whiplash |
| 7. | Fury |
| 8. | Snowpiercer |
| 9. | The Trip To Italy |
| 10. | X-Men: Days Of Future Past |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| The Babadook | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| How To Train Your Dragon 2 | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| Deepsea Challenge | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Lucy | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| 22 Jump Street | |
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Garry Williams| Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | Under The Skin |
| 2. | Boyhood |
| 3. | Calvary |
| 4. | Interstellar |
| 5. | 12 Years A Slave |
| 6. | Dallas Buyers Club |
| 7. | Hannah Arendt |
| 8. | Robocop |
| 9. | Nightcrawler |
| 10. | Her |
| Top Unreleased Films: | |
| 1. | The Terror Live |
| 2. | Jodorowsky's Dune |
| 3. | Search For Weng Weng |
| 4. | Face Of An Angel |
| 5. | Geronimo |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Healing | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Lego Movie | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| Jodorowsky's Dune | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Sarah Snook (Predestination) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Endless Love | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Guardians Of The Galaxy | |
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David Edwards| Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | Gone Girl |
| 2. | Whiplash |
| 3. | The Grand Budapest Hotel |
| 4. | Nightcrawler |
| 5. | The Two Faces Of January |
| 6. | Calvary |
| 7. | Nebraska |
| 8. | Two Days, One Night |
| 9. | Edge Of Tomorrow |
| 10. | Chef |
| Top Unreleased Films: | |
| 1. | Birdman |
| 2. | The Imitation Game |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| The Babadook | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Boxtrolls | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Fat Pizza Vs. Housos | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Edge Of Tomorrow | |
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Michael Dalton| Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | Nightcrawler |
| 2. | Whiplash |
| 3. | Force Majeure |
| 4. | The Wind Rises |
| 5. | Predestination |
| 6. | The Babadook |
| 7. | Under The Skin |
| 8. | The Two Faces Of January |
| 9. | Calvary |
| 10. | The Great Beauty |
| Top Unreleased Films: | |
| 1. | Enemy |
| 2. | Dead Snow 2: Red Vs. Dead |
| 3. | Locke |
| 4. | The Imitation Game |
| 5. | Birdman |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| The Babadook | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Wind Rises | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| The Last Impresario | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Jake Gyllenhaal (Nightcrawler) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Tusk | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| John Wick | |
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Peter Gray| Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | The Grand Budapest Hotel |
| 2. | Whiplash |
| 3. | Gone Girl |
| 4. | The Lego Movie |
| 5. | The Wolf Of Wall Street |
| 6. | Calvary |
| 7. | Predestination |
| 8. | Her |
| 9. | Nightcrawler |
| 10. | Under The Skin |
| Top Unreleased Films: | |
| 1. | Kingsman: The Secret Service |
| 2. | The Imitation Game |
| 3. | Unbroken |
| 4. | Into The Woods |
| 5. | The Theory Of Everything |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Predestination | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Lego Movie | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| Citizenfour | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Sarah Snook (Predestination) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Tusk | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| John Wick | |
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Gary McDonald | Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | Boyhood |
| 2. | Dallas Buyers Club |
| 3. | Calvary |
| 4. | Pride |
| 5. | 12 Years A Slave |
| 6. | Nightcrawler |
| 7. | The Lunchbox |
| 8. | All Is Lost |
| 9. | Nebraska |
| 10. | The Dark Horse |
| Top Unreleased Films: | |
| 1. | Birdman |
| 2. | The Imitation Game |
| 3. | Unbroken |
| 4. | The Theory Of Everything |
| 5. | The Lost Aviator |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Tracks | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| How To Train Your Dragon 2 | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| Finding Vivian Maier | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Tammy | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Paddington | |
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Dave Crewe| Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | The Wolf Of Wall Street |
| 2. | Whiplash |
| 3. | Calvary |
| 4. | Inside Llewyn Davis |
| 5. | Under The Skin |
| 6. | Her |
| 7. | 52 Tuesdays |
| 8. | Two Days, One Night |
| 9. | The Grand Budapest Hotel |
| 10. | Boyhood |
| Top Unreleased Films: | |
| 1. | Tokyo Tribe |
| 2. | Enemy |
| 3. | National Gallery |
| 4. | Journey To The West |
| 5. | Oculus |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| 52 Tuesdays | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Lego Movie | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| The Last Impresario & National Gallery | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Marion Cotillard (Two Days, One Night) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Tusk | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Dracula Untold | |
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Jesse Thompson| Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | Under The Skin |
| 2. | Two Days, One Night |
| 3. | Only Lovers Left Alive |
| 4. | Gloria |
| 5. | Her |
| 6. | The Babadook |
| 7. | Ida |
| 8. | Force Majeure |
| 9. | Boyhood |
| 10. | The Great Beauty |
| Top Unreleased Films: | |
| 1. | It Follows |
| 2. | Journey To The West |
| 3. | Gett: The Trial Of Viviane Amsalem |
| 4. | Hard To Be A God |
| 5. | Silvered Water, Syria Self-Portrait |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| The Babadook | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Wind Rises | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| The Missing Picture | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Patricia Arquette (Boyhood) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Blended | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| The Lunchbox | |
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Ella Donald| Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | Boyhood |
| 2. | Gone Girl |
| 3. | Inside Llewyn Davis |
| 4. | Short Term 12 |
| 5. | 12 Years A Slave |
| 6. | The Wolf Of Wall Street |
| 7. | The Grand Budapest Hotel |
| 8. | Only Lovers Left Alive |
| 9. | Blue Is The Warmest Colour |
| 10. | Snowpiercer |
| Top Unreleased Films: | |
| 1. | The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby |
| 2. | God Help The Girl |
| 3. | What We Did On Our Holiday |
| 4. | Birdman |
| 5. | Tom At The Farm |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Tracks | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Lego Movie | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Rosamund Pike (Gone Girl) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| Winter's Tale | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| Edge Of Tomorrow | |
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Damian Staveley| Top 10 Released Films: | |
| 1. | Boyhood |
| 2. | 12 Years A Slave |
| 3. | The Grand Budapest Hotel |
| 4. | Her |
| 5. | Only Lovers Left Alive |
| 6. | Calvary |
| 7. | Blue Is The Warmest Colour |
| 8. | A Most Wanted Man |
| 9. | Interstellar |
| 10. | Pride |
| Best Australian Film: | |
| Tracks | |
| Best Animated Film: | |
| The Wind Rises | |
| Best Documentary: | |
| 20,000 Days On Earth | |
| Best Performance: | |
| Ralph Fiennes (The Grand Budapest Hotel) | |
| Worst Film: | |
| The Inbetweeners 2 | |
| Most Surprised To Enjoy: | |
| 22 Jump Street | |
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Interview - Olga Kurylenko On 'The Water Diviner'
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
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The Water Diviner marks the directorial debut of Oscar winning actor Russell Crowe. I caught up with one of the film’s co-stars, Olga Kurylenko, to find out what went on behind the scenes. You can listen to the full interview by clicking here.
Matt: When did you first get a chance to read the script for The Water Diviner? What was it that stood out for you?
Olga: I think I read it in July 2013. I liked that it was based on a historical event and also the fact it was a period film. I also liked my character which was really important. I’ve always been an admirer of Russell’s work and so it was great to be part of something that he both directed and starred in. When he offered me the part, I was very excited.
Matt: Most of us in Australia know Russell Crowe the actor but you’re one of the first people in the world to get know to Russell Crowe the director. How would you describe his approach to the film in contrast to other directors you’ve worked with?
Olga: He was a terrific director and I think a lot of that is because he has been an actor. He knows how to talk to actors and tell us exactly what we need to hear. He knows what atmosphere is required on set in order for an actor to feel great and wanting to give. He understands all of that because he has been on the other side. I remember waking up each morning and being really excited about what was going to happen that day.
Matt: Most of the film was shot here in Australia. The scenes that you were involved in… where were they shot in particular?
Olga: All of my scenes were shot in Sydney. After that, the rest of the cast and crew moved on to different locations to shoot parts of the war that didn’t involve my character. Oh, there were also a couple of days in Istanbul where we did some of the exterior work.
Matt: Did you get to do any touristy things while you were here in Australia?
Olga: Yeah, I got here well before the shoot started as part of my preparation. I got to spend a whole day at the zoo which was actually my birthday. I was feeding kangaroos and wallabies and hugging koalas and I wished that was how I could spend every birthday. While in Sydney, I was walking in parks and going to the beaches. It was a real delight.
Matt: How much preparation did you have to go through to get yourself ready for a role like this?
Olga: It took me a while. I’d never spoken Turkish before and so I wanted to make sure that the accent was right. I also wanted to understand what I was saying and not just learning phonetically. I got a Rosetta Stone for Turkish and started learning the language. I didn’t really need to but it was a big help I think. After that, I worked with language coaches who trained me how to speak for about two weeks.
I surprised myself when there was a moment on set when the character who played my Dad, who is Turkish, started improvising a scene. I knew what he was saying and so I started improvising along with him. When Russell said “cut”, everyone started applauding and were asking me how I did it. It wasn’t like I said anything complicated but I was really excited that I knew what he was saying and that I knew how to answer.
Matt: You’re son in the film is played by Dylan Georgiades who is a 12-year-old Melbourne kid with no prior acting experience. His performance was so great. What can you tell us about him?
Olga: I fell in love with him. He’s such a lovely, lovely boy with a beautiful energy. He was exciting and willing to do things. He was always talking to Russell and listening to him and I could see how he wanted to do his best. It’s surprising for a child because they can get tired. I’ve seen that. That didn’t happen here. I hope he gets more work after this because he really deserves it.
Matt: War films are often about big battles and heroic acts but here you play a widower trying to raise a curious son while facing pressure to remarry. Were there books you could read or people you could speak with to give you a clearer perspective of your character and this piece of World War I history?
Olga: I actually went to Turkey for research about a month before the shoot. I met with a Turkish woman who was in a similar position to my character except hers was a current day setting. She was being pressured to remarry following the death of her husband and she was standing up against it. It was a very rare thing for a woman to do even today. I had a long talk and really admired her because she was strong. Her choice was to not obey the rules and do what she felt in heart would be better for her and her children.
Matt: I’ll finish up by asking if you’d like to direct your own film one day like Russell?
Olga: I don’t think so but you never know. I’m much more interested in writing films which I’ve been doing. I may write my own film and then hand it over to a director who can carry it through from there.
Matt's Top & Bottom 10 Films Of 2014
- Details
- Written by Matthew Toomey
For the 19th time, I’ve put together my annual top 10 and bottom 10 films of the year! You can check out all my previous lists by clicking here. I went through the list on 612ABC Brisbane a week or so ago and we took a few calls from listeners. You can listen to the podcast here.
I saw a total of 202 movies in 2014 (excluding unreleased stuff from film festivals) so let's quickly get the junk out of the way…
Worst 10 Films Of 2014
They tried to be truly awful but films that were just outside my worst 10 list included Need For Speed, Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones, Tammy, I Frankenstein, A Castle In Italy, The Face Of Love, That Awkward Moment, Endless Love, Noah and Transcendence.
10. Step Up All In (Sep 11) brings together characters from the previous Step Up flicks for more elaborate dance sequences. Fans will probably enjoy but there's no appeal for anyone else. It's the same old stuff.
9. A Million Ways To Die In The West (May 29) is a spoof western that uses the same jokes again and again and again. Did we need 4 fart jokes in the opening 30 minutes? Seth MacFarlane can't carry this film. I quickly grew tired of his politically incorrect humour (which is not witty).
8. Blended (Jun 12) is not very good (to put it politely). It's the story of two single parents (Adam Sandler & Drew Barrymore) who meet on a blind date and end up taking their respective children on an African adventure. There's no wit, no charm to any of the jokes. It's not even risqué.
7. Fat Pizza Vs. Housos (Nov 27) is a one-note, morally bankrupt comedy that highlights all the people that make Australia so great - prison rapists, corrupt officials, slutty women, dole bludgers, drug dealers, arsonists, thieves and "retards". Just don't see the point of this.
6. Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (Jan 16) is the first big failure of 2014. It's stunningly awful. The plot of Austin Powers had more credibility than this US-Russia terrorist thriller. The story is rushed, the dialogue is cringe-worthy, and the villains are pathetic.
5. Annie (Dec 18) is a mess. The songs have been overproduced and the writers have failed miserably in their attempts to take this classic tale, which was originally set in the Great Depression, and adapt it to a current day setting. You'll need thick rose-coloured glasses if you're to like any of these characters.
4. Mrs Brown's Boys D'movie (Jul 24) is a film spin-off from the popular TV series and follows a cigarette-loving, foul-mouthed grandmother trying to save her small business from a money hungry property developer. Making some odd style choices (the film is bizarrely self aware of itself), this is a comedy absent of laughs.
3. The Volcano (Jun 26) is a torturous French comedy about a divorced couple forced to go on a 2,000km road trip to get to their daughter's wedding in Greece. You couldn't find two more irritating, insensitive characters. Their actions are moronic. Really found it hard to laugh.
2. The Captive (Dec 4) is a pathetic thriller about a father trying to track down his abducted daughter. The film's fragmented timeline appears to only serve one purpose - to try to hide the many plot holes. Why are the abductor's plans so elaborate? Why are the police so incompetent? Why are the issues of rape and torture skirted around?
1. Winter's Tale (Feb 13) is an incoherent mess set in a fantasy world that is never explained. The music is overdone, the casting is wrong and the narration only adds to the confusion.
Top 10 Films Of 2014
It’s always tricky coming up with a final top 10 list year. Honourable mentions go to Force Majeure, Chef, Saving Mr Banks, Inside Llewyn Davis, Wadjda, Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes, Captain America: The First Avenger, The Lego Movie and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Unfortunately, I couldn’t quite squeeze them into my list.
But here are my top 10 in reverse order…
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10. The Wolf Of Wall Street (out Jan 23) is the true story of Jordan Belfort - a man who epitomised greed and created one of the world's largest stockbroking firms. Some might argue about the perverse content, the excessive coarse language, the frequent drug use, the workplace sex, the orgies, the nudity, the misogyny, the discrimination… but it’s hard to fault the performance of Leonardo DiCaprio. Plenty to think about.
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9. The Maze Runner (out Sep 18) can be enjoyed for two reasons. Firstly, it's a cool, intriguing mystery about some teenagers trapped in a giant maze. Who built it? Why are they there? Secondly, there's an interesting dynamic between the characters. Not all get along and it's very Lord Of The Flies-esque. Shot for just $30m, this film held my attention all the way through.
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8. Whiplash (out Oct 23) is a terrific character study about a jazz drummer trying to succeed and his sadistic teacher who keeps pushing him beyond his physical and emotional limits. Winner of the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival, this is a powerful film headlined by two passionate performances from Miles Teller and J.K. Simmons.
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7. The Raid 2 (out Mar 27) is incredible. A 150 minute bloodbath that creatively uses visuals, sound and music. The story isn't bad either - a police officer goes undercover to expose the massive corruption within the force. The action genre doesn't get much better. We warned though - it's VIOLENT.
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6. A Most Wanted Man (out Jul 31) is a cracking spy thriller that stars an overweight, chain-smoking Philip Seymour Hoffman in his final leading role. It doesn't succumb to silly Hollywood twists. Like Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, it's a sharp, intelligent, insightful film that shows how difficult life can be as top spy.
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5. Edge Of Tomorrow (out Jun 5) is the duck's nuts. It's a sensational action flick from director Doug Liman (Go) that follows a not-so-flash soldier stuck in a Groundhog Day like scenario who is trying to save the world from an alien invasion. It's a creative premise, there's plenty of humour, the aliens are freaky, and the editing over the overlapping timelines is perfect. This is as good as the action genre gets.
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4. Nebraska (out Feb 20) is the story of an old man, suffering from the early stages of dementia, who incorrectly believes he won a $1 million sweepstakes prize. This is another wonderful feature film from director Alexander Payne (Election, Sideways, The Descendants) where dialogue has been used sparingly. Bruce Dern heads the superb cast.
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3. 12 Years A Slave (out Jan 30) is based on the autobiographical novel from Solomon Northup - an African-American who was kidnapped in 1841 and sold into slavery. Dialogue is kept to minimum (a feature of other Steve McQueen films) and the performances are exemplary. It’s a heavy, depressing film but it’s also one that’s hard to discredit.
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2. Still Life (out Jul 24) follows a middle-aged council employee charged with the responsibility of organising funerals when a person has died with no friends or family. This is an immensely warm-hearted drama that is dripping with poignant moments. Eddie Marsan is fantastic is the leading role. There aren’t many films that have reduced me to tears but Still Life can now be added to that short list.
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1. Boyhood (out Sep 4) is masterpiece that chronicles the process of “growing up” through the eyes of an introverted kid named Mason. Director Richard Linklater shot this fictional tale over 12 years using the same actors! It seamlessly jumps between time frames and the character interaction feels amazingly natural. Sure to release the valve on your own childhood memories, this is about as good as cinema can get.